May 2005
Dahlia
Tuber Sale May
1 Sunday 1 – 3 p.m.
Dahlias are late summer bloomers popular for their extravagant
blooms, diverse forms, and bright colors.
They’re subtropical annuals grown each year from tubers dug up in
the fall and over-wintered indoors in a cool, dry environment.
Sale is held in Olbrich’s Atrium, and is sponsored by the Badger
State Dahlia Society. For information, call 608-271-4943.
Lecture:
Composting - Soil and Sustainability May 4
Wednesday 6:30 – 8:30
p.m.
Registration deadline: April 27
Composting is an easy and inexpensive way to enhance your soil while
reducing waste and protecting local lakes from harmful runoff. Joan Laurion,
owner of Compostbasics, and patent holder for low-tech, large-capacity
composters, will explain all the how’s and why’s of composting. Learn
more about the benefits, and discover how easy it is to turn your yard waste
into rich soil. Laurion will demystify common misunderstandings about
composting: Should I put my pile in the sun or shade? Do I need to turn it?
Can I put animal products and wood ashes in my pile? She’ll also share
tips on how to make composting super-easy and efficient to help you leave
time for the rest of your garden. The registration deadline is April 27. The
cost is $11 member and $13 for the general public. For more information or
to register call 608-246-4550.
Spring Bulb
Garden Walk May 5 Thursday 5:30
– 7 p.m.
Registration deadline: April 28
Glorious spring and fabulous
bulbs! Come visit Olbrich and take an informative stroll through the
hundreds of bulb varieties planted throughout the garden. Olbrich plants as
many as 30,000 bulbs each year. Bulb expert and Olbrich Horticulturist
Christian Harper will take you on a lovely spring evening walk to view the
bulbs and discuss their attributes. This is your chance to learn everything
you want to know about bulbs while viewing an awe-inspiring bulb display!
The registration deadline is April 28. The cost is $8 for Olbrich Botanical
Society members and $10 for the general public. For
more information or to register call 608-246-4724.
Art
Fair: Audubon Art Fair
May 7
Saturday 9:30am – 4:30
p.m.
Enjoy a juried art fair of
over 100 artists in the full splendor of the Gardens. The fair features an
art show and sale, a raffle, silent auction, food tent, and kids’
activities. Sponsored by the Audubon Society. For
more information, call 608-255-2473.
Mother’s
Day Concert: New Horizons Concert Band May
8 Sunday 2 – 3 p.m.
Bring your mother to Olbrich to stroll through the spring blooms in the
Wildflower Garden, Rock Garden, Meadow Garden, and tulip beds.
Enjoy a concert in the Evjue Commons by New Horizons Concert Band.
Suggested donation $1.
Members’
Presale: Olbrich’s
Spectacular Spring Plant Sale Thursday,
May 12 2 – 7 p.m.
Join the Olbrich Botanical Society and shop early for the best selection!
Annuals, perennials, and shrubs selected for their beauty and
hardiness by Olbrich’s horticulture staff.
Find a wide selection of new and unusual varieties at this
members-only sale. Olbrich’s
experts will be available to answer questions.
A live plant auction will accompany the sale.
Proceeds benefit Olbrich Botanical Gardens.
For membership information call 608-246-4724.
Plant
Sale: Olbrich’s
Spectacular Spring Plant Sale May
13 and 14 Friday
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Here’s your opportunity to
purchase many of the plant varieties used in Olbrich’s gardens to create
stunning annual displays, creative container gardens, and beautiful
perennial gardens in your own yard. You’ll
be inspired by plant combinations and displays developed by Olbrich’s
professional staff. There will
also be container garden “recipes” with all of the ingredients to plant
a gorgeous terracotta container. Pre-planted
containers will also be available. Master gardeners and Olbrich’s horticulturists will be
available to answer questions. If
you’re looking for gardening advice in written form, choose from a
selection of books and magazines at the Gardening Used Book Sale.
Proceeds benefit Olbrich Botanical Gardens. For more
information call 608-246-4550.
Olbrich
on TV May
15 Sunday
2 p.m.,
This spring, Olbrich
Botanical Gardens is featured in three episodes on the program Wisconsin
Gardener, with host Shelley Ryan, on Wisconsin Public Television. The
program features Olbrich Director of Horticulture Jeff Epping who will give
advice on staking perennials, using examples from Olbrich’s outdoor
gardens.
Workshop:
Create a Hanging Moss Basket May 18
Wednesday 5:30 – 7:30
p.m. - Class Full
Registration deadline: May 11
Moss baskets, European
gardens, or hanging gardens . . . whatever you call them, they’re
gorgeous! Learn how to use moss to make hanging containers, which plants you
should use, and how to keep them looking beautiful all summer long.
Olbrich’s Director of Horticulture Jeff Epping and Horticulturist Samara
Eisner will give you all the information, guidance, and plant material
you’ll need to make a massive display of hanging beauty! Upon
registration, please indicate whether you prefer sun or shade plants.
You’ll go home with a finished basket appropriate for the lighting
conditions you indicated. The registration deadline is May 11. The cost is
$45 for Olbrich Botanical Society members and $55 for the general public.
For more information or to register, call 608-246-4550.
Olbrich’s Leaf Mulch Sale - Postponed Until Oct. 8
Plant
Show: Badger Bonsai Society Show May
21 and 22 Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
and Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Marvel at these growing
landscapes in miniature. Sponsored by the Badger
Bonsai Society. For more information call 608-249-5227.
Workshop:
Ikebana Japanese Flower Arranging May
21 Saturday
1 – 4 p.m. - Class Full
Registration deadline: May 12
Characterized by
simple, elegant designs with a minimum of flowers, Ikebana is the Japanese
style of flower arranging. Kay Sweet, trained at the Ohara School of Ikebana
in Tokyo, Japan, will demonstrate basic Ikebana design concepts and then
guide participants through the creation of their own arrangement to take
home. Arrangements are often tall and narrow and may consequently need to be
partially disassembled for car transport. Participants may want to bring a
camera (digital is optimal) to photograph their arrangement before the trip
home. A pail may also be helpful to support the arrangement in the car.
Participants are asked to bring their own pruning scissors or sheers.
Flowers and containers are included in the course fee. The registration
deadline is May 12. The cost is $60 for Olbrich Botanical Society members
and $75 for the general public. For more information or to register, call
608-246-4550.
Spring
Family Garden Walk May 22 Sunday
1 – 2 p.m.
Registration deadline: May 16
Get out and enjoy the spring weather on this family-oriented tour of
Olbrich’s outdoor gardens. You’ll learn about each of Olbrich’s
specialty gardens and the plants and animals that call Olbrich home. Bring
the whole family! Class will be canceled in inclement weather. The
registration deadline is May 16. The walk is free for Olbrich Botanical
Society members and $2 per family for the general public. For more
information or to register, call 608-246-4550.
Roses Luncheon Series: Roses Through the Ages - Cancelled
Michael
B. Olbrich Legacy Society Lunch May
24
The Michael B. Olbrich
Legacy Society gathers for its annual lunch and tour of the Gardens.
The Legacy Society recognizes those who have included Olbrich
Botanical Gardens in their will or other estate plans.
For more information about the Legacy Society, call 608-246-4583.
Workshop:
Ornamental Containers May 24
Tuesday 5:30 – 7:30
p.m.
Registration deadline: May 17
Loved by small and
large space gardeners alike, containers are a fabulous way to dress up your
patio, deck, or balcony. In this workshop, Olbrich’s Director of
Horticulture Jeff Epping and Horticulturist Mark Shimasaki will guide
participants to plant containers overflowing with beauty. Upon registration,
please indicate whether you prefer sun or shade plants. You’ll go home
with a finished container appropriate for the lighting conditions you
indicated. The registration deadline is May 17. The cost is $45 for Olbrich
Botanical Society members and $55 for the general public. For more
information or to register, call 608-246-4550.
Art
Exhibit: Sue Gilgen Fiber Arts
Ongoing:
March 13 – June 5 Sundays,
11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Evjue Commons
Sue Gilgen, a local fiber artist, will display her creations, inspired by
Wisconsin flora and fauna, in the art exhibit “Luminations.” Instead of
paints and brushes, she uses fabric and thread to sew her art together in a
quilt-like fashion. Free. Gallery
Sundays are made possible by a gift from William and Joyce Wartmann.
Yoga
in the Gardens On-going, Mondays, 5 – 6:15 p.m. OR Thursdays,
7:30 - 8:45 a.m.